Latest News
Sam Sadi predicts Fanatics success at Xtremepush iGaming event
Fanatics has the tools to come out on top in the race between the two major newcomers in the US sports betting market, according to LiveScore Group CEO Sam Sadi.
Speaking at iGaming 2024: The Future of iGaming, an event hosted by Xtremepush, the leading omnichannel customer engagement platform powered by a real-time customer data platform (CDP), Sadi outlined his belief that the superior knowledge and experience of the Fanatics team presents them with a significant competitive advantage over rivals ESPN Bet.
Flutter, the parent company of FanDuel, has estimated that the overall regulated sports betting market in the US will be worth more than $40 billion by 2030.[MC1]
“Fanatics has the better chance of winning,” said Sadi, in a fireside chat with Xtremepush CEO Tommy Kearns at London’s Southbank Centre. “ESPN Bet probably won’t, unless they realise the full difficulties they face with Barstool, they understand what’s missing, they’re patient and they invest a lot in technology.
“Why should Fanatics win? Because they already understand it. A lot of their executives, management and engineering team come from Sky Bet. They know what it takes to build a world-class sportsbook and they know that convergence is difficult. They’re willing to be patient and construct an entire ecosystem piece by piece, with every component being best-in-class.”
Coveting convergence
Sadi also touched on the hot topic of convergence in sports betting, such a big area for his company LiveScore and LiveScore Bet, outlining the area in which he sees scope for innovation.
“A lot of technology resources today are spent on remaining compliant,” he said. “We are in an over-regulated industry where margins have been eroded, meaning companies can’t invest as much in innovation.
“Just as we have done, you are looking for alternative strategies and inefficiencies in the ecosystem of sports content and media. If you include this in a fully owned ecosystem, there is margin for improvement. This is the part of the experience where you can start innovating and investing, as opposed to within a sportsbook where you can’t make as much of a difference.”
Player Engagement 2.0 – Turning Visitors into Loyal Players
Other external speakers at the well-attended event, which hosted operators, suppliers and media from the iGaming industry, included Joanna Beaton, Head of CRM at Kwiff, Adrian Căpriţă, CRM and VIP Director at Superbet, and Tom Dyson, Head of Gaming Managed Services at EveryMatrix, who discussed the future of player engagement, retention and loyalty.
Beaton also expanded on the theme of regulation and the consequent need to retain players, with personalised experiences acting as a powerful engagement tool.
“A lot of the attention has been on acquisition, but as the market becomes more saturated, regulation becomes stricter and deposit limits are there to deal with, so retention has to become central. How do you stand out if you can’t bonus your player who is playing with three or four more other bookies through your product?
“It’s really important to know your player profiles and half the job is understanding data. If not, you’re basically throwing money into the wind and hoping for the best. We’ve worked with Xtremepush over the last year and have hundreds of attributes now in terms of player profiles, which have enabled some beautiful onboarding journeys. Because of the level of data that we have access to, we’ve seen tremendous uplift.”
Dyson’s view, meanwhile, was that there are limits to the extent to which brand marketing is effective in the battle for player retention.
“Brand recognition is the only area where I can see marketing being responsible for retention,” he said. “How often can I get my brand in front of someone I’ve had a contact point with? Thereafter, the responsibility is with the product. You have to get players in the door and engage them with an experience that might be different, but which needs to match up with what you promised. That needs to happen in real-time, because tomorrow they might have already been sent to other operators.”
Pushing the positives
For Beaton, the fundamental key to unlocking player loyalty is the provision of a positive initial experience.
“Even though we have a sizable brand, we are in a congested market and looking after players should be a priority,” she added. “When players come through the door, creating memorable positive experiences is what builds the foundation of loyalty. This is especially the case when regulation is getting tighter and bonusing is becoming harder. While acquisition is important, retention and creating that first positive experience is vital.”
Latest News
SavageTech launches SKINS to power up igaming brands’ sponsorship deals
SavageTech, the world’s first true gamified retention solution, has launched SKINS, enabling operators to extract more value from their sponsorship IP deals.
SavageTech, which was launched in April this year by esports and iGaming entrepreneur Tom Lemke, is a plug-and-play widget that adds a seamless engagement layer for players.
Requiring just a single line of code, SavageTech gamifies the gambling experience with integrated bonus rewards, quest-based cross-sale opportunities and community building with social leaderboards.
SavageTech is currently integrating with five B2C brands – with the first expected to go live early next year – and announced its first significant product update during the SiGMA Europe Summit in Malta last week with the launch of SKINS.
SKINS allows clients to customise the theme of the gamification layer, including the avatar, progression challenges and rewards. For example, the avatar can become a football player improving their skills and winning trophies or a soldier earning equipment and winning battles.
Themes can be fully customised to best engage operators’ audiences and adapted to maximise value from sponsorship IP deals.
Lemke, a founder of two of Germany’s biggest esports teams in Mousesports and BIG, said: “Many brands spend a serious chunk of their marketing budget on licensing IP and SavageTech provides another channel to maximise value from those deals.
“Imagine your audience playing as real football stars or beloved characters. Using SavageTech, companies can showcase real athletes, entertainers, or branded avatars, instantly enhancing engagement and immersion.
“The feedback we’ve received from clients and prospects made SKINS a product priority for us. Sportsbooks and Casinos are now able to fully customise the SavageTech widget to make sure it’s highly relevant to players and therefore an even stronger loyalty tool.
“SavageTech has been built to tackle a growing problem facing many igaming companies in that Gen Y and Z customers find gambling boring. True gamification helps solve that problem and there is simply no cheaper way to retain valuable players, including VIPs.”
Compliance Updates
MGA Marks Safer Gambling Week by Hosting Focus Group on Addressing Problem Gambling
As part of Safer Gambling Week, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has launched the first in a series of focus groups aimed at addressing problem gambling and its effects on Maltese communities.
Bringing together key stakeholders such as Caritas Malta, Aġenzija Sedqa, the OASI Foundation and the Responsible Gaming Foundation, the session explored a self-assessment tool that the Authority is currently developing, grounded in recent research and industry trends.
The self-assessment tool, which will be available both in English and in Maltese, will guide individuals through a set of questions to help them identify whether gambling is causing harm in their lives. Based on the user’s responses, the tool will provide personalised recommendations and direct them to appropriate support services.
With invaluable input from organisations experienced in supporting individuals affected by problem gambling, the tool will undergo further refinement to maximise its effectiveness and relevance.
Clinical Chair at Aġenzija Sedqa, Anna Maria Vella, hailed the focus group as a “welcome initiative” which brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts.
“Working together and not in silos is always beneficial. We learn from each other to be more effective.”
Louis Bellizzi, Secretary of Caritas’ Foundation for Victims of Usury, said: “The MGA is in a unique position to coordinate the national effort to help alleviate the scourge of gambling addictions.”
In recent years, the Authority has taken significant steps to promote safer gambling practices, ranging from regular supervisory reviews on responsible gambling to enforcing stricter regulations.
The MGA closely monitors operators’ implementation of behavioural monitoring systems, self-exclusion systems and responsible marketing practices.
With a focus on high-risk areas, the Authority is refining its supervisory approach to be more dynamic and data-driven, ensuring responsible gambling practices are maintained and continuously improved to protect players effectively.
The MGA’s efforts align closely with the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)’s initiative to establish a unified European standard for identifying markers of harm. The MGA is actively engaged in this initiative, working closely with fellow regulators and industry experts to create a comprehensive standard aimed at early identification of behaviours indicative of problem gambling.
The Authority’s proactive involvement in such initiatives underscores its dedication to fostering a responsible and transparent gaming sector, both locally and across Europe.
Latest News
Amusnet Enters into Partnership with Jacks.nl
Amusnet has entered into a partnership with the Netherlands operator Jacks.nl. This strategic alliance will enable the renowned provider to expand its footprint in the local gaming market by integrating its top-notch gaming solutions into Jacks.nl’s platform. By leveraging combined strengths, both companies aim to deliver an enhanced gaming experience that prioritizes player engagement and satisfaction.
“At Amusnet, we have always prioritized excellence in our offerings. Partnering with Jacks.nl enhances our market reach and aligns with our strategic objectives to deliver exceptional value to our partners. We are confident this collaboration will benefit both organizations and local players,” said Dimitri De Temmerman, Managing Director at Amusnet BNL.
“Jacks.nl stands as a premier destination for online casino enthusiasts in the Netherlands, offering a world-class gaming experience. From immersive live casino games to a wide variety of slots, Jacks.nl ensures a secure, entertaining, and unforgettable journey for every player. Our collaboration with leading game provider Amusnet further strengthens our platform, delivering innovative and high-quality games that elevate the gaming experience for our users,” commented Ayla Haverkamp, Casino Operational Manager at Jacks.nl.
On Jacks.nl’s platform, players can find some of the provider’s most popular games, such as Hot Deco, Secrets of Sherwood, 100 Power Hot, Vampire Bites, Shining Crown, Drops of Water, Cavemen and Dinosaurs, 40 Burning Hot, 7 & Crystals and many more.
-
Asia7 days ago
PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations
-
Interviews7 days ago
Exclusive Q&A w/ Radek Pšurný, CEO at Match Hype
-
Latest News14 hours ago
Make every pixel personal: Opera GX facelift lets you match your browser to your setup down to the smallest detail
-
Balkans7 days ago
EGT’s Supreme Green Selection made its successful debut in Bulgaria
-
Australia7 days ago
AUSTRAC and Pacific Financial Intelligence Units Gather in Brisbane to Tackle Financial Crime in the Region
-
Latest News14 hours ago
Casino Management System Market to Reach USD 29.09 Billion by 2032 | Enhanced Security and Operational Efficiency Drive Growth | Research by S&S Insider
-
Asia7 days ago
India’s top gamers Jonathan & TechnoGamerz to face off in eFootball showdown at DreamHack India 2024
-
Balkans6 days ago
EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers